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Dhaka: Political parties largely silenced by a state of emergency are now demanding the release of detained leaders as Bangladesh prepares to mark its independence anniversary this week.
At least one party threatens demonstrations if former prime minister Sheikh Hasina is not released before the March 26 anniversary, and corruption charges against her quashed.
"If that does not happen, the Awami League, Hasina's party, would defy all bans and launch protests against the illegal jailing and urge bringing her out, along with other party leaders," Tofayel Ahmed, a former minister and senior Awami leader, said.
He said the senior leaders and top policy planners of the party met late on Sunday in Dhaka to review the situation, and warned they might "not be able to hold back a people's upsurge to free Hasina and her comrades".
Supporters of detained former prime minister Khaleda Zia also demanded her release from jail before March 26, in a letter addressed to President Iajuddin Ahmed.
"Set her free immediately. We are waiting for her instructions to break the impasse over emergency and related restrictions", said Rizvi Ahmed, a leader of Khaleda's Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Hasina and Khaleda alternated as prime ministers of Bangladesh for 15 years until October 2006, and could run for power in future elections.
Bangladesh's army-backed interim government, which took over in January 2007 following months of political violence, put the country under an indefinite state of emergency. It banned political activities and launched a massive crackdown on allegedly corrupt politicians, but vowed to hold a parliamentary election before this year-end.
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